Two Pan Macmillan debut authors shortlisted for 2020 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards

To round out an amazing year for exceptional books, Pan Macmillan is proud to announce that two of our authors Chloe Higgins and Helena Fox have been nominated for Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2020!

Chloe Higgins is shortlisted for her non-fiction book, The Girls. The Girls is a harrowing tale from Higgins, the Director of Woollongong Writers Festival. When Chloe was 17 years old, she and her mother stayed home so she could study for the HSC. Her father took her two younger sisters on a skiing trip. On the way back from their trip, their car veered off the highway, flipped on its side and burst into flames. Both her sisters were killed. Their father walked away from the accident with only minor injuries. The Girls is about what happens next. The Girls was published in 2019 by Picador and is Chloe’s book debut.

‘The Girls is fluidly written, engaging, and demonstrates how the act of articulating – or trying to articulate – the unimaginable can tether us and then set us free.’ Judges’ Report of The Girls. 

Helena Fox’s incredible novel, How it Feels to Float, is shortlisted in the Writing for Young Adults category. How it Feels to Float is also Helena’s debut novel. The story follows Biz, who knows how to float. Biz doesn’t tell anyone anything. Not about her dark, runaway thoughts, not about kissing Grace or noticing Jasper, the new boy. And she doesn’t tell anyone about her dad. Because her dad died when she was seven.

‘How It Feels to Float introduces a powerful and original voice that blends poetry and prose, written with mysticism and a sharpness that illuminates the reality and turbulence of mental illness.’ Judges’ Report of How it Feels to Float. 

The winners will be announced on 30 January 2020 at a ceremony at MPavilion in Melbourne. Winners of each category will be rewarded with $25,000 and will go on to be considered for the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature.